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Pens sign defenseman Alexandre Picard 1 year, 2 way contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Alexandre Picard to a one-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

Picardís contract is a two-way deal worth $600,000 at the NHL level.

Picard, 26, spent the 2010-11 season with the Montreal Canadiens after signing with Montreal as a free agent on July 31 of last year. In 43 games with the Canadiens, Picard amassed three goals, five assists and eight points.

A 6-foot-2, 220-pound blueliner, Picard has appeared in 236 career regular-season games for the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes and Canadiens. During that time the Gatineau, QC native has collected 19 goals, 46 assists and 65 points.

Originally drafted by Philadelphia in the third round (85th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Picardís best offensive season came with the Flyers in 2006-07 when he established career highs in assists (19) and points (22) in 62 games.

Prior to joining the Flyers, Picard spent four seasons playing junior hockey with Halifax and Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In 255 career games, Picard totaled 31 goals, 91 assists, 122 points and a plus-88 rating. He added 17 points (4G-13A) in 56 postseason contests.

During Picardís lone season with Cape Breton in 2003-04, he was teammates with Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.